Head levelling and holding device



April 12, 1960 SMITH 2,932,303

HEAD LEVELLING AND HOLDING DEVICE Filed Jan. 21, 1958 Lloyd 1.. 5mm

INVENTOR BY -Mm,

Unite 2,932,303 HEAD LEVELLING AND HOLDING DEVICE Lloyd L. Smith,Burwell, Nebr. Application January 21, 1958, Serial No. 710,317 1 Claim.(Cl. 13245) This invention relates to a simple, practical and anefiectual structural device which lends itself to advantageous use in abarber shop in that it functions to serve both the customer and thebarber and keeps the customers head level while getting a flat-tophaircut.

It is a matter of common knowledge that present day barber shoppractices call for the use of a recently patented level-equippedflat-top comb. The present head levelling and holding device isexpressly, but not necessarily, adapted to be used in conjunction withthe stated comb, the latter being used on the hair itself.

Briefly summarized, the, concept has to do with a head levelling andholding device comprising a pair of companion arms adapted to occupypositions to the left and right, respectively, of the users head, alevel carried by one of said arms, and means for harnessing said arms onthe person of the user and maintaining the arms in substantiallyperpendicular positions.

Novelty is predicated on the construction stated wherein the one armmentioned is stationary while the other arm is adjustable in a verticalplane on a horizontal axis toward and from said one arm.

Construed from another point of view the invention pertains to a harnesswhich is adapted to be temporarily applied to and worn by the user, aspirit level, and means operatively supporting the spirit level in agiven position relative to the users head, the harness preferablycomprising a generally U-shaped neck embracing yoke which is adapted torest upon the users shoulders. In addition the structure includesstabilizing and retaining legs which are attached to and depend fromeach of the limbs of the yoke, the legs assuming approximately 2,932,303Patented Apr. 12, 1960 ice overlap to accommodate a bolt 12 held inplace by a nut 14. There is a coil spring 16 surrounding the shank ofthe bolt assembled and held by the nut, and said spring has oppositelyextending fingers 18 which press against the rearward surfaces of thesections 8 in a manner to press the limbs 20 of the yoke together, thatis, when the bolt is loosened. The left hand limb has an upturnedterminal portion 22 which, as seen in Fig. 4, has a flat upper end 24pressed against a similar flat lower end 26 on the lower end portion ofone of the gauging and positioning arms 28 Here again a bolt 30 isemployed and this extends through overlapped ends, carrying a nut 32 anda coil spring 34 with its end portions 36 pressing against thecomponents 22 and 28 respectively. The spring when the bolt is slightlyloosened, tends to keep the arm 28 yieldingly and accommodatinglyagainst Y the left cheek of the users or wearers head. The other limb 29of the yoke is directed upwardly at 38 and joins with the relativelystationary arm 40. This is opposite to the arm 28 and extends along theright cheek in the manner illustrated. Its purpose is to serve not onlyas a brace for the wearers head and face but also 'as a support for thespirit level 42. This, as shown in Fig. 2,

embodies a suitable aluminum or lightweightblock 44 equipped with aconventional bubble-type level 46. Thus, there is an adjustablehorizontally disposable yoke carrying upstanding arms 28 and equippedwith appropriate level means. The yoke is a component of the over-allharness and the harness also includes a pair of retaining andstabilizing legs and these are seen best in Fig. 2 and are denoted bythe numeral 48. The legs extend down over the chest of the wearer andhave forwardly flared lower end or terminal portions 50. These legs inconjunction with the yoke provide highly adaptable and satisfactoryharness, said harness supporting the two upstanding arms which, in turn,cooperate in presenting for the barbers use facilities desired inassisting him in giving the customer a fiat-top haircut. Theexperimental model has been constructed out of components ofalumiparallel relationship when in use and being adapted v to rest uponthe chest of the wearer.

More explicitly, the invention is directed to a U-shaped yoke embodyingan adjustable bight portion and spaced parallel limbs, a first verticalarm integral with and perpendicular to the forward end portion of onelimb and carrying level indicating means, a second arm cooperating withthe first arm and hingedly connected to the forward end portion of theother limb, and legs attached to and depending from sa'd limbs andadapted to rest upon the chest of the wearer. I

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readilyapparentfrom the following description and the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a user seated in a barber's chairand illustrating the head levelling and holding device constructed inaccordance with the invention and in use;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the'same;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device by itself;

Fig. 4 is an exaggerated fragmentary elevational view detailing a hingeconstruction; and

Fig. 5 is a similar view also showing a hinge construction which isembodied to render the yoke adjustable.

With reference first to the yoke this is U-shaped in plan and isdenoted, as an entity, by the numeral 6. It is of sectional constructionand may be expanded to adapt itself to customers of varying size andstature. The bight portion embodies companion arcuate sections adjacentend portions 8 (Fig. 5) of which are flattened at 10 and num tubing andthe block carrying the level is also of lightweight aluminum. Perhapscommercial plastics of appropriate grade will do just as long as theover-all device is light in weight, easy to keep clean, easy to handleand package and otherwise convenient when serving the barber and thecustomer.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur' to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A head levelling and holding device comprising: a yoke for mounting onthe shoulders, said yoke including a pair of pivotally connected,spring-biased adjustable limbs for straddling the neck, said limbsterminating in upwardly curved free end portions, an upstanding, fixedarm on the free end of one of the limbs, a pivotally adjustable,spring-biased arm on the free end of the other of said limbs, said armsfor receiving and retaining the head in an upright positiontherebetween, a spirit level on the first named arm, and a pair ofsupporting legs depending from the limbs for resting on the chest.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

